The Secret Garden
(Libby/OverDrive eBook)

A new series, "Storytime Classics," introduces four timeless stories retold by Janet Allison Brown to the picture-book crowd. Full-bleed and spot illustrations carry the stories, with text in large type In The Secret Garden and A Little Princess, both by Frances Hodgson Burnett, illus. by Graham Rust, the heroines' kind-heartedness and perserverence shines through. Mole, Ratty, Toad and Badger embark on their adventures in The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, illus. by Joanne Moss, and in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, illus. by Dinah Dryhurst, readers meet the four March sisters. (June) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Soothing and mellifluous, native Briton Bailey's voice proves an excellent instrument for polishing up a new edition of Burnett's story. Bratty and spoiled Mary Lennox is orphaned when her parents fall victim to a cholera outbreak in India. As a result, Mary becomes the ward of an uncle in England she has never met. As she hesitantly tries to carve a new life for herself at imposing and secluded Misselthwaite Manor, Mary befriends a high-spirited boy named Dickon and investigates a secret garden on the Manor grounds. She also discovers a sickly young cousin, Colin, who has been shut away in a hidden Manor room. Together Mary and Dickon help Colin blossom, and in the process Mary finds her identity and melts the heart of her emotionally distant uncle. Bailey makes fluid transitions between the voices and accents of various characters, from terse Mrs. Medlock and surly groundskeeper Ben to chipper housemaid Martha. And most enjoyably, she gives Mary a believably childlike voice. A brief biography of the author is included in an introduction. Ages 6-12. (June) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Gr 4-8-Originally published in 1911, the story of Mary Lennox's transformation from impudent orphan to compassionate friend in the forbidden garden of Misselthwaite Manor has been recorded for a new generation to enjoy. Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic is done justice by the vocal talents of Josephine Bailey. From the start, the narrator's lilting English accent will capture students' attention, but it is her vocal characterizations that will hold it. Abundant dialogue is enhanced with the authentic-sounding broad Yorkshire of the brusque Mrs. Medlock, the talkative Martha, and the crotchety old Ben, contrasted with Mary's precise and proper English. Bailey effortlessly captures the innocence of the young and the world-weariness of the old, while moving seamlessly between the two. There are no sound effects, and they are not needed. The overall aural quality is excellent. While the length of the production may initially scare off some listeners, those who persevere will be rewarded with a rich literary experience.- Leigh Ann Rumsey, Penn Yan Academy, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Gr 4-7-Although an abridgement, this audiobook captures the essence of the classic children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Raised in India, Mary Lennox is sent to live with an uncle she never met at Misselthwaite Manor in England when her parents die. At first, Mary hates living on the English moors. Like her deceased parents, Mary's uncle ignores the child and leaves her in the care of the housekeeper and other servants. Encouraged to play outside by Martha, a housemaid, Mary meets Ben Weatherstaff, a gardener, and she learns about the secret garden. While playing in the garden, Mary discovers the locked door leading in to the secret garden. One night, Mary hears someone crying, and discovers her invalid cousin in a dark room. The two children explore the healing magic of the secret garden. British actress Jenny Agutter narrates the story with a carefully modulated accent, and classical music plays in the background. Despite the quality of the audiobook, the Victorian language may be a deterrent and the story's plot may be outdated for most modern listeners. Consider adding this audiobook to collections where classic children's literature is popular.-Sarah Prielipp, Chippewa River District Library System, Mt. Pleasant, MI Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Gr 1-4-- Although this abridged version of Burnett's classic novel retains the order of narrative events found in her work, the bare-bones style has little of the flavor of the original. The condensation all but eliminates descriptive passages and fails to develop characters such as Ben Weatherstaff, Susan Sowerby, and Archibald Craven. The time from Colin's entry into the garden through his recovery is severely compressed. Nor can the illustrations earn a purchase recommendation on their own merits. Figures are stiff and lifeless, and the colors are unappealing. In the final painting, for example, the complexions of all the characters are a sickly green. Adults who want to share their own remembered enjoyment of Burnett's work with their children would be well advised to read the original aloud to young listeners or wait until they are old enough to read the complete novel themselves. --Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MN Copyright 1991 Cahners Business Information.

Gr 4-8-The perennial fascination with Frances Hodgeson Burnett's classic story has made it a vehicle for a variety of adaptations. This audio presentation by the Saint Charles Players is an unsuccessful attempt to make the story into a radio-style version. The best work is done by the narrator who weaves story text between dialogue that is sometimes flat and sometimes overacted. Sound effects are helpful and the musical interludes pleasant, but overall this offering lacks dramatic intensity. The tapes must be played on a stereo player or part of the story can't be heard. A better choice for listeners who want to listen to the entire story would be the unabridged reading by Flo Gibson for Recorded Books (1987).-Barbara S. Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT Copyright 1999 School Library Journal Reviews

Gr 4–8—Many laudable versions of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic have been recorded, and this is another worthy selection. Spoiled Mary Lennox is sent to the English moors to live in a mysterious mansion that holds many secrets. Classic characters such as Dickon, the almost magical gardener/animal whisperer, and Colin, the spoiled, sickly son of the house, grow to know and trust each other as well as Mary. Finola Hughes does a marvelous job with the Yorkshire accent, Colin's childishly peremptory remarks, and Dickon's peaceful mien. At the beginning, Hughes doesn't quite succeed in portraying Mary's self-centeredness and meanness, but as the girl begins to blossom, she becomes much more assured in her portrayal. The pacing is excellent and the production quality is very good. This enchanting production belongs in most library collections.—B Allison Gray, Goleta Public Library, Santa Barbara, CA

Gr 3–5—Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic is the quintessential tale of re-awakening and redemption. Mary Lennox, the spoiled poster-child of literature, wins our hearts as we come to empathize with her abandonment in the care of a remote uncle on the gray Yorkshire moors. Finding the key to a mysterious garden is the key to her blossoming as a person. The point of the Classic Starts Series is to make timeless stories accessible to young children, and this is a laudable goal. However, this version (Sterling, 2005), abridged by Martha Hailey, has been so simplified and Americanized that it loses its Yorkshire soul. The narrator's mellow voice is pleasant, but there is little attempt made to distinguish different character voices or to connect the tale to the English countryside. Discussion questions are posed at the end of the book (but not the CD) for further classroom study. There is also a short treatise by Arthur Prober, EdD, defending the abridgement of classics as a way to encourage independent reading of an otherwise overwhelmingly lengthy novel.—Lonna Pierce, MacArthur Elementary School, Binghamton, NY